The 2025 Trailblazers in Clean Energy

The transition to clean energy has entered a new phase in New York, as the state faces threats from new tariffs, economic headwinds and a pivot away from climate change policies in Washington, D.C. Yet renewable resources like solar and wind power as well as advances in battery storage and energy efficiency remain a key part of the energy equation, championed by public officials and industry executives alike. And even as federal subsidies for renewable energy dry up and climate goals come under scrutiny, there remains plenty of industry momentum behind major initiatives like offshore wind installations and upgraded and expanded transmission lines across the state.

City & State’s annual Trailblazers in Clean Energy puts a spotlight on the clean energy leaders of New York, including innovative industry figures, groundbreaking policymakers and notable environmentalists and conservationists.

A veteran of the clean energy industry, Melina Acevedo is developing large-scale solar energy projects in New York and growing the renewable energy sector. At D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments, or DESRI, Acevedo led the creation of 1 gigawatt of solar energy from the financing stage to the beginning of construction. Previously at Nextracker, Acevedo helped create 33 utility-scale solar projects with 7 gigawatts of energy. As a board member of Latinxs in Sustainability, she launched the group’s first workforce development program in a partnership with the City College of New York.